Enantioselective amine α-functionalization via palladium-catalysed C-H arylation of thioamides

Thione-Directed C-H Amidation of Chromone Analogues with Dioxazolones under Rh(III) Catalysis

Sulfur-containing organic molecules are recognized as promising candidates for catalytic C-H functionalization and medicinal chemistry owing to the exceptional ability of the sulfur atom to bind to transition metals and target enzymes. In this study, we report the Rh(III)-catalyzed thione-directed C-H amidation of various thiochromone analogues derived from flavones, isoflavones, and xanthones. Post-transformations of C5-amidated thiochromone products were investigated, and a series of mechanistic studies were performed.

Regio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Polysubstituted Piperidines Enabled by Boronyl Radical-Catalyzed (4+2) Cycloaddition

Piperidines are widely present in small molecule drugs and natural products. Despite many methods have been developed for their synthesis, new approaches to polysubstituted piperidines are highly desirable. This work presents a radical (4+2) cycloaddition reaction for synthesis of piperidines featuring dense substituents at 3,4,5-positions that are not readily accessible by known methods. Using commercially available diboron(4) compounds and 4-phenylpyridine as the catalyst precursors, the boronyl radical-catalyzed cycloaddition between 3-aroyl azetidines and various alkenes, including previously unreactive 1,2-di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted alkenes, has delivered the polysubstituted piperidines in generally high yield and diastereoselectivity. The reaction also features high modularity, atom economy, broad substrate scope, metal-free conditions, simple catalysts and operation. The utilization of the products has been demonstrated by selective transformations. A plausible mechanism, with the ring-opening of azetidine as the rate-limiting step, has been proposed based on the experimental and computational results.

Merging Ring-Opening 1,2-Metallate Shift with Asymmetric C(sp3)-H Borylation of Aziridines

Chiral secondary alkyl amines with a vicinal quaternary stereocenter are undoubtedly important and ubiquitous subunits in natural products and pharmaceuticals. However, their asymmetric synthesis remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we merge the ring-opening 1,2-metallate shift with iridium-catalyzed enantioselective C(sp3)-H borylation of aziridines to deliver these frameworks with high enantioselectivities. We also demonstrated the synthetic application by downstream transformations, including the total synthesis of two Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, (-)-crinane and (+)-mesmebrane.

Unveiling the Mechanistic Role of Chiral Palladacycles in Pd(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)-H Functionalization

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective C(sp3)-H functionalization reactions has attracted considerable attention due to its ability for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched molecules and stimulation of novel retrosynthetic disconnections. Understanding the reaction mechanism, especially the stereochemical process of the reaction, is crucial for the rational design of more efficient catalytic systems. Previously, we developed a Pd(II)/sulfoxide-2-hydroxypridine (SOHP) catalytic system for asymmetric C(sp3)-H functionalization reactions. In this study, we focused on unraveling the chemistry of chiral palladacycles involved in the Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C(sp3)-H functionalization. We have isolated key palladacycle intermediates involved in the enantioselective β-C(sp3)-H arylation of carboxylic acids catalyzed by the Pd(II)/SOHP system. These palladacycles, exhibiting ligand-induced chirality, provided a significant opportunity to investigate the stereochemical process and the ligand effect in this asymmetric C-H functionalization. Our investigation provided direct evidence for the C-H palladation step as the enantioselectivity-determining step, which forms diastereomeric palladacycles that exhibited preservation of chirality in the functionalization step. DFT calculations provided insights into the chiral induction in palladacycle formation. This work highlights the value of chiral palladacycle chemistry in offering mechanistic insights into the Pd(II)-catalyzed asymmetric C(sp3)-H functionalization reactions.

Control over Anion Coordination on Pd(II), Cu(I), and Ag(I) with Regioisomeric Phosphine-Carboxylate Ligands

The coordination of anionic donors is involved at various stages of catalytic cycles in transition-metal catalysis, but control over the spatial positioning of anions around a metal center is a challenge in coordination chemistry. Here we show that regioisomeric phosphine-carboxylate ligands provide spatial anion control on palladium(II) centers by favoring either κ2, cis-κ1, or trans-κ1 coordination of the carboxylate donor. Additionally, the palladium(II) carboxylates, which contain a methyl donor, upon protonation, deliver metal-alkyl complexes that feature a coordinated carboxylic acid. Such complexes can be considered as models for the minima that follow the concerted metalation-deprotonation transition state for C-H activation. The predictability of the coordination modes is further demonstrated on silver(I) and copper(I) centers, for which less common structures of mononuclear and dinuclear complexes can be obtained by using spatial anion control. Our results demonstrate the potential for spatial control over carboxylate anions in coordination chemistry.

Visible light-mediated aza Paternò-Büchi reaction of acyclic oximes and alkenes to azetidines

The aza Paternò-Büchi reaction is a [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction between imines and alkenes that produces azetidines, four-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Currently, successful examples rely primarily on either intramolecular variants or cyclic imine equivalents. To unlock the full synthetic potential of aza Paternò-Büchi reactions, it is essential to extend the reaction to acyclic imine equivalents. Here, we report that matching of the frontier molecular orbital energies of alkenes with those of acyclic oximes enables visible light-mediated aza Paternò-Büchi reactions through triplet energy transfer catalysis. The utility of this reaction is further showcased in the synthesis of epi-penaresidin B. Density functional theory computations reveal that a competition between the desired [2+2]-cycloaddition and alkene dimerization determines the success of the reaction. Frontier orbital energy matching between the reactive components lowers transition-state energy (ΔGǂ) values and ultimately promotes reactivity.

CoH-catalyzed asymmetric remote hydroalkylation of heterocyclic alkenes: a rapid approach to chiral five-membered S- and O-heterocycles

Saturated heterocycles, which incorporate S and O heteroatoms, serve as fundamental frameworks in a diverse array of natural products, bioactive compounds, and pharmaceuticals. Herein, we describe a unique cobalt-catalyzed approach integrated with a desymmetrization strategy, facilitating precise and enantioselective remote hydroalkylation of unactivated heterocyclic alkenes. This method delivers hydroalkylation products with high yields and excellent stereoselectivity, representing good efficiency in constructing alkyl chiral centers at remote C3-positions within five-membered S/O-heterocycles. Notably, the broad scope and good functional group tolerance of this asymmetric C(sp3)-C(sp3) coupling enhance its applicability.

Enantioselective remote methylene C-H (hetero)arylation of cycloalkane carboxylic acids

Stereoselective construction of γ- and δ-stereocenters in carbonyl compounds is a pivotal objective in asymmetric synthesis. Here, we report chiral bifunctional oxazoline-pyridone ligands that enable enantioselective palladium-catalyzed remote γ-C-H (hetero)arylations of free cycloalkane carboxylic acids, which are essential carbocyclic building blocks in organic synthesis. The reaction establishes γ-tertiary and α-quaternary stereocenters simultaneously in up to >99% enantiomeric excess, providing access to a wide range of cyclic chiral synthons and bioactive molecules. The sequential enantioselective editing of two methylene C-H bonds can be achieved by using chiral ligands with opposite configuration to construct carbocycles containing three chiral centers. Enantioselective remote δ-C-H (hetero)arylation is also realized to establish δ-stereocenters that are particularly challenging to access using classical methodologies.

Metal-Free ortho C-H Borylation of Thiobenzamides

A BBr3-mediated S-directed ortho C-H borylation of thiobenzamides was developed. A variety of ortho-borylated thiobenzamides were obtained in moderate to good yields with a wide functional group tolerance under simple and metal-free conditions. This transformation provided a convenient and practical route to important functionalized thiobenzamides.

Sulfur in Waste-Free Sustainable Synthesis: Advancing Carbon-Carbon Coupling Techniques

This review explores the pivotal role of sulfur in advancing sustainable carbon-carbon (C-C) coupling reactions. The unique electronic properties of sulfur, as a soft Lewis base with significant mesomeric effect make it an excellent candidate for initiating radical transformations, directing C-H-activation, and facilitating cycloaddition and C-S bond dissociation reactions. These attributes are crucial for developing waste-free methodologies in green chemistry. Our mini-review is focused on existing sulfur-directed C-C coupling techniques, emphasizing their sustainability and comparing state-of-the-art methods with traditional approaches. The review highlights the importance of this research in addressing current challenges in organic synthesis and catalysis. The innovative use of sulfur in photocatalytic, electrochemical and metal-catalyzed processes not only exemplifies significant advancements in the field but also opens new avenues for environmentally friendly chemical processes. By focusing on atom economy and waste minimization, the analysis provides broad appeal and potential for future developments in sustainable organic chemistry.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantio- and Regioselective C(sp3 )-H Alkenylation of Thioamides

An enantioselective cobalt-catalyzed C(sp3 )-H alkenylation of thioamides with but-2-ynoate ester coupling partners employing thioamide directing groups is presented. The method is operationally simple and requires only mild reaction conditions, while providing alkenylated products as single regioisomers in excellent yields (up to 85 %) and high enantiomeric excess [up to 91 : 9 enantiomeric ratio (er), or up to >99 : 1 er after a single recrystallization]. Diverse downstream derivatizations of the products are demonstrated, delivering a range of enantioenriched constructs. Extensive computational studies using density functional theory provide insight into the detailed reaction mechanism, origin of enantiocontrol, and the unusual regioselectivity of the alkenylation reaction.

A Radical Approach for Asymmetric α-C-H Addition of N-Sulfonyl Benzylamines to Aldehydes

Efficient synthesis of enantioenriched amines is of great importance due to their significant synthetic and biological applications. Photoredox-mediated asymmetric α-amino C(sp3)-H functionalization offers an atom-economical and sustainable approach to access chiral amines. However, the development of analogous reactions is in its early stages, generally affording chiral amines with a single stereocenter. Herein, we present a novel synergistic triple-catalysis approach for the asymmetric α-C-H addition of readily available N-sulfonyl amines to aldehydes under mild conditions. This method allows for the efficient synthesis of a diverse array of valuable β-amino alcohols bearing vicinal stereocenters. Unlike previous reports, our protocol employs a radical approach using earth-abundant Cr catalysis. Quinuclidine plays a dual role by facilitating highly selective hydrogen-atom transfer to generate α-amino radicals and promoting the dissociation of the Cr-O bond, which is crucial for the overall catalytic cycle as evidenced by control, NMR, and DFT experiments. Preliminary mechanistic studies, including radical trapping, nonlinear effect, Stern-Volmer plot, kinetic isotope effect, and Hammett plot, offer valuable insights into the reaction pathway.

Sulfur-Directed α-C(sp3)-H Amidation of Pyrrolidines with Dioxazolones under Rhodium Catalysis

Site-selective functionalization of saturated N-heterocycles such as pyrrolidines is a central topic in organic synthesis and drug discovery. We herein report the sulfur-assisted rhodium(III)-catalyzed sp3 C-H amidation of pyrrolidines with dioxazolones as amidating agents. The amenability of the thioamide directing group is elucidated by a series of control experiments.

Ligand-Enabled Palladium(II)-Catalyzed γ-C(sp3)-H Arylation of Primary Aliphatic Amines

The Pd(II)/sulfoxide-2-hydroxypyridine catalytic system shows promising activity in C-H activation chemistry. In this study, we showcase how this catalytic system solves the problem of native primary amine-directed γ-C(sp3)-H arylation. Primary amines with different complexities are compatible with the established methodology, and the range of applicable substrates can be expanded to include pyridine, oxime ether, and pyridine N-oxide.

Photoredox Nickel-Catalysed Stille Cross-Coupling Reactions

The Stille cross-coupling reaction is one of the most common strategies for the construction of C-C bonds. Despite notable strides in the advancement of the Stille reaction, persistent challenges persist in hindering its greener evolution. These challenges encompass multiple facets, such as the high cost of precious metals and ligands, the demand for various additives, and the slow reaction rate. In comparison to the dominant palladium-catalysed Stille reactions, cost-effective nickel-catalysed systems lag behind, and enantioconvergent Stille reactions of racemic stannanes remain undeveloped. Herein, we present a pioneering instance of nickel-catalysed enantioconvergent Stille cross-coupling reactions of racemic stannane reagents, resulting in the formation of C-C bonds in good to high yields with excellent stereoselectivity. This strategy provides a practical, scalable, and operationally straightforward method for the synthesis of C(sp3 )-C(sp3 ), C(sp3 )-C(sp2 ), and C(sp3 )-C(sp) bonds under exceptionally mild conditions (without additives and bases, ambient temperature). The innovative use of synergistic photoredox/nickel catalysis enables a novel single-electron transmetalation process of stannane reagents, providing a new research paradigm of Stille reactions.

The Construction of Highly Substituted Piperidines via Dearomative Functionalization Reaction

Nitrogen heterocycles play a vital role in pharmaceuticals and natural products, with the six-membered aromatic and aliphatic architectures being commonly used. While synthetic methods for aromatic N-heterocycles are well-established, the synthesis of their aliphatic functionalized analogues, particularly piperidine derivatives, poses a significant challenge. In that regard, we propose a stepwise dearomative functionalization reaction for the construction of highly decorated piperidine derivatives with diverse functional handles. We also discuss challenges related to site-selectivity, regio- and diastereoselectivity, and provide insights into the reaction mechanism through mechanistic studies and density functional theory computations.

Transition-metal-catalyzed atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral styrenes

Axially chiral styrenes, a type of atropisomer analogous to biaryls, have attracted great interest because of their unique presence in natural products and asymmetric catalysis. Since 2016, a number of methodologies have been developed for the atroposelective construction of these chiral skeletons, involving both transition metal catalysis and organocatalysis. In this feature article, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of recent advances in the asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral styrenes catalyzed by transition metals, integrating scattered work with different catalytic systems together. This feature article is cataloged into five sections according to the strategies, including asymmetric coupling, enantioselective C-H activation, central-to-axial chirality transfer, asymmetric alkyne functionalization, and atroposelective [2+2+2] cycloaddition.

Suzuki-Miyaura Type Regioselective C-H Arylation of Aromatic Aldehydes by a Transient Directing Strategy

Herein, we disclose a common approach for palladium-catalyzed direct coupling of the ortho-C-H bond of aromatic aldehydes with various organoboronic reagents by a transient directing strategy. In contrast to widely used cross-coupling reactions of C-H bonds with aryl halides, which generally need silver salt as a halide removal reagent, the method which used BQ/TFA as weak oxidation system for the PdII/Pd0 redox cycle is cost-effective, ecofriendly, and more aligned with green catalysis. This broadly applicable method opens up a new and efficient Suzuki-Miyaura coupling route for the direct formation of carbon-carbon bonds by C-H bond activation.

Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation of Endocyclic 1-Azaallyl Anions: Concise Synthesis of Unprotected Enantioenriched cis-2,3-Diarylpiperidines

Unprotected cis-2,3-diarylpiperidines are synthesized through an unprecedented palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between aryl halides and elusive endocyclic 1-azaallyl anions. These intermediates are generated in situ by the deprotonation of 2-aryl-1-piperideines, precursors that are readily prepared in two operations from simple piperidines. An asymmetric version of this reaction with (2R, 3R)-iPr-BI-DIME as the ligand provides products in moderate to good yields and enantioselectivities. This study significantly expands the synthetic utility of endocyclic 1-azaallyl anions.

Divergent Access to Chiral C2- and C3-Alkylated Pyrrolidines by Catalyst-Tuned Regio- and Enantioselective C(sp3)-C(sp3) Coupling

Novel-substituted pyrrolidine derivatives are widely used in drugs and bioactive molecules. The efficient synthesis of these valuable skeletons, especially enantiopure derivatives, is still recognized as a key bottleneck to overcome in chemical synthesis. Herein, we report a highly efficient catalyst-tuned regio- and enantioselective hydroalkylation reaction for the divergent synthesis of chiral C2- and C3-alkylated pyrrolidines through desymmetrization of the readily available 3-pyrrolines. The catalytic system consists of CoBr₂ with a modified bisoxazoline (BOX) ligand, which can achieve the asymmetric C(sp³)-C(sp³) coupling via the distal stereocontrol, providing a series of C3-alkylated pyrrolidines in high efficiency. Moreover, the nickel catalytic system allows the enantioselective hydroalkylation to synthesize the C2-alkylated pyrrolidines through the tandem alkene isomerization/hydroalkylation reaction. This divergent method uses readily available catalysts, chiral BOX ligands, and reagents, delivering enantioenriched 2-/3-alkyl substituted pyrrolidines with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). We also demonstrate the compatibility of this transformation with complex substrates derived from a series of drugs and bioactive molecules in good efficiency, which offers a distinct entry to more functionalized chiral N-heterocycles.

Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Borrowing Hydrogen Annulation of Racemic 1,4-Diols with Amines

We present an enantioconvergent access to chiral N-heterocycles directly from simple racemic diols and primary amines, through a highly economical borrowing hydrogen annulation. The identification of a chiral amine-derived iridacycle catalyst was the key for achieving high efficiency and enantioselectivity in the one-step construction of two C-N bonds. This catalytic method enabled a rapid access to a wide range of diversely substituted enantioenriched pyrrolidines including key precursors to valuable drugs such as aticaprant and MSC 2530818.

Ligand-Enabled Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective β-C(sp3 )-H Arylation of Aliphatic Tertiary Amides

Amide is one of the most widespread functional groups in organic and bioorganic chemistry, and it would be valuable to achieve stereoselective C(sp³ )-H functionalization in amide molecules. Palladium(II) catalysis has been prevalently used in the C-H activation chemistry in the past decades, however, due to the weakly-coordinating feature of simple amides, it is challenging to achieve their direct C(sp³ )-H functionalization with enantiocontrol by Pd^II catalysis. Our group has developed sulfoxide-2-hydroxypridine (SOHP) ligands, which exhibited remarkable activity in Pd-catalyzed C(sp² )-H activation. In this work, we demonstrate that chiral SOHP ligands served as an ideal solution to enantioselective C(sp³ )-H activation in simple amides. Herein, we report an efficient asymmetric Pd^II /SOHP-catalyzed β-C(sp³ )-H arylation of aliphatic tertiary amides, in which the SOHP ligand plays a key role in the stereoselective C-H deprotonation-metalation step.

Photocatalysis and Kinetic Resolution by Lithiation to Give Enantioenriched 2-Arylpiperazines

Piperazines are important heterocycles in drug compounds. We report the asymmetric synthesis of arylpiperazines by photocatalytic decarboxylative arylation (metallaphotoredox catalysis) then kinetic resolution using n-BuLi/(+)-sparteine. This gave a range of piperazines with very high enantioselectivities. Further functionalizations gave enantioenriched 2,2-disubstituted piperazines, and either N-substituent can be removed selectively. Late-stage functionalizations of enantioenriched piperazine derivatives were demonstrated, including synthesis of a drug compound with glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β inhibitor activity with potential for treating Alzheimer's disease.

(SCp)Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Satoh-Miura Reaction for Building-up Axial Chirality: Counteranion-Directed Switching of Reaction Pathways

Satoh-Miura reaction is an important method for extending π-systems by forging multi-substituted benzene rings via double aryl C-H activation and annulation with alkynes. However, the development of highly enantioselective Satoh-Miura reaction remains rather challenging. Herein, we report an asymmetric Satoh-Miura reaction between 1-aryl benzo[h]isoquinolines and internal alkynes enabled by a SCpRh-catalyst. Judiciously choosing the counteranion of the Rh-catalyst is crucial for the desired reactivity over the competitive formation of azoniahelicenes. Detailed mechanistic studies support the proposal of counteranion-directed switching of reaction pathways in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric C-H activation.

Site- and enantioselective cross-coupling of saturated N-heterocycles with carboxylic acids by cooperative Ni/photoredox catalysis

Site- and enantioselective cross-coupling of saturated N-heterocycles and carboxylic acids-two of the most abundant and versatile functionalities-to form pharmaceutically relevant α-acylated amine derivatives remains a major challenge in organic synthesis. Here, we report a general strategy for the highly site- and enantioselective α-acylation of saturated N-heterocycles with in situ-activated carboxylic acids. This modular approach exploits the hydrogen-atom-transfer reactivity of photocatalytically generated chlorine radicals in combination with asymmetric nickel catalysis to selectively functionalize cyclic α-amino C-H bonds in the presence of benzylic, allylic, acyclic α-amino, and α-oxy methylene groups. The mild and scalable protocol requires no organometallic reagents, displays excellent chemo-, site- and enantioselectivity, and is amenable to late-stage diversification, including a modular synthesis of previously inaccessible Taxol derivatives. Mechanistic studies highlight the exceptional versatility of the chiral nickel catalyst in orchestrating (i) catalytic chlorine elimination, (ii) alkyl radical capture, (iii) cross-coupling, and (iv) asymmetric induction.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Thioamide Directed C(arene)-H Annulation with Ynamide: Regioselective Access to 2-Amidoindenones

Demonstrated herein is an unprecedented thioamide-directed cobalt (Co)-catalyzed umpolung annulation of sulfoximines enabled aryl thioamide with ynamide for the synthesis of highly substituted 2-amidoindenones. The cyclization is regioselective, making β-C-C and α-C-CO bonds. The transformation is even successful on a gram scale, exhibiting broad scope with labile functional group tolerance and constructing 43 unusual 2-amidoindenones of structural diversity. Control experiments and mechanistic investigation validate the regioselectivity outcome in this transformation.

Enantioselective Single and Dual α-C-H Bond Functionalization of Cyclic Amines via Enzymatic Carbene Transfer

Cyclic amines are ubiquitous structural motifs found in pharmaceuticals and biologically active natural products, making methods for their elaboration via direct C-H functionalization of considerable synthetic value. Herein, we report the development of an iron-based biocatalytic strategy for enantioselective α-C-H functionalization of pyrrolidines and other saturated N-heterocycles via a carbene transfer reaction with diazoacetone. Currently unreported for organometallic catalysts, this transformation can be accomplished in high yields, high catalytic activity, and high stereoselectivity (up to 99:1 e.r. and 20,350 TON) using engineered variants of cytochrome P450 CYP119 from Sulfolobus solfataricus. This methodology was further extended to enable enantioselective α-C-H functionalization in the presence of ethyl diazoacetate as carbene donor (up to 96:4 e.r. and 18,270 TON), and the two strategies were combined to achieve a one-pot as well as a tandem dual C-H functionalization of a cyclic amine substrate with enzyme-controlled diastereo- and enantiodivergent selectivity. This biocatalytic approach is amenable to gram-scale synthesis and can be applied to drug scaffolds for late-stage C-H functionalization. This work provides an efficient and tunable method for direct asymmetric α-C-H functionalization of saturated N-heterocycles, which should offer new opportunities for the synthesis, discovery, and optimization of bioactive molecules.

Arylboration of Enecarbamates for the Synthesis of Borylated Saturated N-Heterocycles

Two catalytic systems have been developed for the arylboration of endocyclic enecarbamates to deliver synthetically versatile borylated saturated N-heterocycles in good regio- and diastereoselectivities. A Cu/Pd dual catalytic reaction enables the synthesis of borylated, α-arylated azetidines, while a Ni-catalysed arylboration reaction efficiently functionalizes 5-, 6-, and 7-membered enecarbamates. In the case of the Cu/Pd-system, a remarkable additive effect was identified that allowed for broader scope. The products are synthetically useful, as demonstrated by manipulations of the boronic ester to access biologically active compounds.

Preparation of thioamides from alkyl bromides, nitriles, and hydrogen sulfide through a thio-Ritter-type reaction

A novel thio-Ritter-type reaction of alkyl bromides, nitriles, and hydrogen sulfide has been explored, providing a straightforward approach toward functionally important thioamides. This transformation features a broad substrate scope, operational simplicity, use of available feedstock chemicals, and late-stage functionalizations of bioactive molecules. The reaction mechanism is also proposed.

Catalytic Lewis Base Additive Enables Selective Copper-Catalyzed Borylative α-C-H Allylation of Alicyclic Amines

Functionalized alicyclic amines are important building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive natural compounds and drugs. Existing methods of functionalization are typically limited to the synthesis of protected amines or the use of highly basic organometallic reagents that can compromise functional group tolerance. Here, we report a novel approach that enables the transformation of O-benzoyl hydroxylamines into α-functionalized cyclic secondary amines by means of a copper-catalyzed regio-, stereo-, and chemoselective coupling with allenes and bis(pinacolato)diboron. A key feature of the present transformation is the use of a catalytic Lewis base additive which inhibits the competing C–N bond forming reaction between the catalytically generated boron-substituted allylcopper intermediate with the O-benzoyl hydroxylamine, thus enabling in situ transformation of the latter into an alicyclic imine which undergoes selective C–C bond formation with the allylcopper species.

Hydroaminoalkylation for the Catalytic Addition of Amines to Alkenes or Alkynes: Diverse Mechanisms Enable Diverse Substrate Scope

Hydroaminoalkylation is a powerful, atom-economic catalytic reaction for the reaction of amines with alkenes and alkynes. This C-H functionalization reaction allows for the atom-economic alkylation of amines using simple alkenes or alkynes as the alkylating agents. This transformation has significant potential for transformative approaches in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fine chemical industries in the preparation of selectively substituted amines and N-heterocycles and shows promise in materials science for the synthesis of functional and responsive aminated materials. Different early transition-metal, late transition-metal, and photoredox catalysts mediate hydroaminoalkylation by distinct mechanistic pathways. These mechanistic insights have resulted in the development of new catalysts and reaction conditions to realize hydroaminoalkylation with a broad range of substrates: activated and unactivated, terminal and internal, C-C double and triple bonds with aryl or alkyl primary, secondary, or tertiary amines, including N-heterocyclic amines. By deploying select catalysts with specific substrate combinations, control over regioselectivity, diastereoselectivity, and enantioselectivity has been realized. Key barriers to widespread adoption of this reaction include air and moisture sensitivity for early transition-metal catalysts as well as a heavy dependence on amine protecting or directing groups for late transition-metal or photocatalytic routes. Advances in improved catalyst robustness, substrate scope, and regio-/stereoselective reactions with early- and late transition-metal catalysts, as well as photoredox catalysis, are highlighted, and opportunities for further catalyst and reaction development are included. This perspective shows that hydroaminoalkylation has the potential to be a disruptive and transformative strategy for the synthesis of selectively substituted amines and N-heterocycles from simple amines and alkenes.

Different Chiral Ligands Assisted Enantioselective C-H Functionalization with Transition-Metal Catalysts

C–H bonds are common in organic molecules, and the functionalization of these inactive C–H bonds has become one of the most powerful methods used to assemble complicated bioactive molecules from readily available starting materials. However, a central challenge in these reactions is controlling their stereoselectivity. Recently, significant progress has been made in the development of enantioselective C–H activation enabled by different chiral ligands for the formation of C–C and C–X bonds bearing a chiral center. In this paper, we focus on some archetypal chiral ligands for enantioselective C–H functionalization developed in recent years and analyze the mechanism of these methods, aiming to accelerate related research and to search for more efficient strategies.

Modular Access to Chiral α-(Hetero)aryl Amines via Ni/Photoredox-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cross-Coupling

Chiral α-aryl N-heterocycles are commonly found in natural products, pharmaceutical agents, and chiral catalysts but remain challenging to access via asymmetric catalysis. Herein, we report a general and modular approach for the direct enantioselective α-arylation of saturated azacycles and acyclic N-alkyl benzamides via nickel/photoredox dual catalysis. This process exploits the hydrogen atom transfer ability of photoeliminated chlorine radicals to convert azacycles to the corresponding α-amino alkyl radicals that then are coupled with ubiquitous and inexpensive (hetero)aryl chlorides. These coupling reactions require no oxidants or organometallic reagents, feature feedstock starting materials, a broad substrate scope, and high enantioselectivities, and are applicable to late-stage diversification of medicinally relevant complex molecules. Mechanistic studies suggest that the nickel catalyst uncommonly plays multiple roles, accomplishing chlorine radical generation, α-amino radical capture, cross-coupling, and asymmetric induction.

The quest for magic: recent advances in C(sp3)–H methylation

Frequently referred to as the “magic methyl” effect, the introduction of a methyl group into a biologically active molecule has the potential to drastically alter its physical and biological properties and significantly increase potency. This effect is most pronounced when the methyl group is added at the α-position of an aliphatic heterocycle or ortho to a large rotatable group on an aromatic ring. Although seminal developments in C–H activation strategies offered solutions to the latter, until recent years there had been no selective and functional-group-tolerant method for C(sp3)–H methylation at late stages of synthesis. For many years, the lack of a generally applicable methylation strategy necessitated arduous de novo synthesis approaches to access methylated drug candidates, and discouraged further investigation and understandings of the magic methyl effect. This review will provide a summary of the most recent advances that enabled non-directed late-stage C(sp3)–H methylation, including through hydride transfer, chemical or anodic oxidation, and photocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer.

Visible-Light-Induced α,γ-C(sp3)-H Difunctionalization of Piperidines

Herein, we describe a novel protocol for visible-light-induced α,γ-C(sp³)-H difunctionalization of piperidines. This redox-neutral, atom-economical protocol, which exhibits a broad substrate scope and good functional group compatibility, constitutes a concise, practical method for constructing piperidine-containing bridged-ring molecules. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that highly regioselective activation of the inert γ-C(sp³)-H bond of piperidines was achieved through a 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer reaction of a nitrogen radical generated in situ.

α-Branched amines through radical coupling with 2-azaallyl anions, redox active esters and alkenes

α-Branched amines are fundamental building blocks in a variety of natural products and pharmaceuticals. Herein is reported a unique cascade reaction that enables the preparation of α-branched amines bearing aryl or alkyl groups at the β- or γ-positions. The cascade is initiated by reduction of redox active esters to alkyl radicals. The resulting alkyl radicals are trapped by styrene derivatives, leading to benzylic radicals. The persistent 2-azaallyl radicals and benzylic radicals are proposed to undergo a radical-radical coupling leading to functionalized amine products. Evidence is provided that the role of the nickel catalyst is to promote formation of the alkyl radical from the redox active ester and not promote the C-C bond formation. The synthetic method introduced herein tolerates a variety of imines and redox active esters, allowing for efficient construction of amine building blocks.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Pyrrolidines via Oxetane Desymmetrization

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral pyrrolidines bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in the 3-position remains challenging. Herein we report two efficient protocols by means of oxetane desymmetrization, featuring the use of a readily available tert-butylsulfinamide chiral auxiliary and a catalytic system with chiral phosphoric acid as the source of chirality, respectively.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Ring Expansion of Azetidines via Domino Conjugate Addition/N-Directed α-C(sp3)-H Activation

A facile synthetic method for 4-aryl-4,5-dihydropyrrole-3-carboxylates is developed, with a rhodium-catalyzed ring expansion strategy from readily available 2-(azetidin-3-ylidene) acetates and aryl boronic acids. Mechanistic investigations suggest a novel domino "conjugate addition/N-directed α-C(sp³)-H activation" process. The asymmetric catalytic synthesis of the 4-aryl-4,5-dihydropyrrole-3-carboxylate is realized by using QuinoxP* (91-97% ee). The synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted or 2,3,4-trisubstituted pyrrolidines with excellent diastereoselectivities.

Experimental and Computational Studies on the Directing Ability of Chalcogenoethers in Palladium-Catalyzed Atroposelective C-H Olefination and Allylation

We present herein our experimental and DFT computational studies on the directing ability of chalcogenoether motifs in Pd-catalyzed atroposelective C-H functionalization. The thioether motif was found to be a superior directing group compared to the corresponding ether and selenoether in terms of reactivity and enantiocontrol. Remarkably, DFT calculation provided a predictive model for the optimization of reaction conditions and the interpretation of the origin of enantioselectivity. Both Pd-catalyzed enantioselective C-H olefination and allylation reactions were successfully developed using chiral phosphoric acids as efficient ligands, providing a broad range of axially chiral biaryls in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The highly enantio- and diastereoselective construction of polyaryls bearing multiple stereogenic axes, gram-scale reaction and various chemical transformations make this protocol more attractive and significant.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)-H Arylation of 2-Propyl Azaaryls Enabled by an Amino Acid Ligand

A palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective arylation of unbiased secondary C(sp³)-H bonds was developed. The enantioselectivity was controlled by the combination of a pyridyl or isoquinolinyl directing group and an amino acid, N-Boc-2-pentyl proline. A variety of 2-propyl azaaryls and biaryl iodides were employed to provide arylated products in moderate to good yields (up to 82%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 93:7 er). This reaction is a rare example of an amino-acid-enabled enantioselective acyclic methylene C(sp³)-H arylation. Furthermore, the reaction proceeded with high enantioselectivity even on a gram scale, and the product was transformed to a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline bioactive molecule. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) experiments indicated that C-H activation is the rate-determining step for the enantioselective C(sp³)-H arylation.

Cp*Rh(III)-Catalyzed Regioselective C(sp2)-H Mono- and Dialkynylation of Thioamides by Sulfur Coordination

An efficient Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective C(sp²)-H mono- and dialkynylation of thioamides was described. This reaction was performed under mild conditions in high yields (up to 98%) with a broad substrate scope. Significantly, the versatility of this method was further demonstrated by controlled mono- and dialkynylation. Application of this protocol in the late stage functionalization of two drug molecules (Adapalene and Amoxapine) was also demonstrated.

Exploring Electrochemical C(sp3)-H Oxidation for the Late-Stage Methylation of Complex Molecules

The "magic methyl" effect, a dramatic boost in the potency of biologically active compounds from the incorporation of a single methyl group, provides a simple yet powerful strategy employed by medicinal chemists in the drug discovery process. Despite significant advances, methodologies that enable the selective C(sp3)-H methylation of structurally complex medicinal agents remain very limited. In this work, we disclose a modular, efficient, and selective strategy for the α-methylation of protected amines (i.e., amides, carbamates, and sulfonamides) by means of electrochemical oxidation. Mechanistic analysis guided our development of an improved electrochemical protocol on the basis of the classic Shono oxidation reaction, which features broad reaction scope, high functional group compatibility, and operational simplicity. Importantly, this reaction system is amenable to the late-stage functionalization of complex targets containing basic nitrogen groups that are prevalent in medicinally active agents. When combined with organozinc-mediated C-C bond formation, our protocol enabled the direct methylation of a myriad of amine derivatives including those that have previously been explored for the "magic methyl" effect. This synthesis strategy thus circumvents multistep de novo synthesis that is currently necessary to access such compounds and has the potential to accelerate drug discovery efforts.

Palladium-Catalyzed α-Amino C-H Functionalization via Isomerization of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyls

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective α-amino C-H functionalization via the isomerization of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls including esters, ketones, and amides has been established, providing an easy access to a wide array of tricyclic 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-b-carbolines, azepinoindoles, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridines, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino-[1,2-a]indoles, pyran-fused indoles, and tetrahydroisoquinolines in good to excellent yields. This transformation showed high regioselectivity, excellent functional group tolerance, and scalability. Moreover, this methodology was also employed as the key step for the total synthesis of desbromoarborescidines A, B, and C. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the palladium catalyst not only formed [Pd-H] to promote the isomerization of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls but also played a role as a Lewis acid for the final protonation/cyclization.